THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

Dear PFC Richard Roberts, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. Your 72nd birthday is soon, happy birthday. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Tomorrow is POW/MIA Recognition Day. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

In the summer of 1969, B Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 4th Infantry Division, occupied LZ Bass in Kontum Province, RVN. The company’s 81mm mortar crew, however, was relocated from LZ Bass to an airstrip at Dak To to fire illumination rounds at night and give support around the perimeter. On June 24, 1969, the mortar crew was given a detail to locate a sling load of ammunition that had fallen near the airstrip from an Army CH-46 Chinook resupply helicopter. The squad was accompanied on the mission with some men from the line platoons. The detachment was moved in a truck for about two kilometers from the air strip, then walked approximately one and a half kilometers to the fallen ammunition. The men were instructed not to touch any of the munitions, instead secure the area until the engineers could blow it in place. As the men took up positions around the fallen ordinance, an explosion occurred. Mortar platoon members SP4 Gary L. Clark, SP4 Lavon N. Prather, PFC Richard D. Roberts, and SP4 Woodrow N. Trissell Jr. were killed instantly in the blast. PFC Dean C. Wilson was critically wounded with massive trauma to the front of his body. The explosion caused him to land into the middle of the pile of fallen ammo which itself had not detonated. Three other soldiers were wounded. Evidently, one of the troopers had hit a trip wire set by the enemy before they arrived. Two of the survivors stated that they had heard a “click” sound just before the blast occurred. One of the survivors, a medic, suffered only minor wounds, and administered aid to the others. He removed Wilson from the ordinance. Critically injured, he was having trouble breathing. The medic would give him five or six rescue breaths, assist the other wounded, then return to Wilson. The radio was still working and he called a dustoff. Soon, two AH-1G Cobra helicopter gunships appeared above, and began circling the beleaguered party. A dustoff arrived, but could not land due to the density of the jungle. The wounded were evacuated in a litter by cable to the awaiting helicopter. Wilson expired before he was lifted out. The other two wounded were taken to a hospital in Kontum and survived. The following day, the battalion chaplain arrived at LZ Bass from Pleiku and conducted a memorial service for the five fallen men. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information from Larry D. Harris (November 2011) and Thomas R. Mueller (March 2005), provided by Frederick Golladay (January 2018)]

Dear PFC Richard Daniel Roberts, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, Sir

Curt Carter

Richard is buried at Schuylkill Memorial Cemetery, Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill County,PA.